Strategy

Persistence has paid off at Ingles Market for Jim Lanning who was elevated to the role of CEO after joining the $3.8 billion supermarket chain 41 years earlier.

Asheville, NC.-based Ingles Markets named Lanning, 56, to the role of CEO, filling a position previously held by company Chairman Robert P. Ingle, II. Lanning will retain his position as president while Ingle, 47, will continue to serve as chairman and continue his day-to-day active operational role in the executive leadership of the company, according to a statement.

Amazon.com has been slowly but surely building the capabilities of its interactive Echo voice-activated consumer device. According to Re/code, integrating Echo with the Alexa artificial intelligence platform to allow the ordering of new commodity items is only a step toward the final goal. Namely, full-scale, Echo-based access to Amazon’s entire inventory. [Re/code]

Sears Holdings has named an expert in digital transformation to fill the newly created role of chief administrative officer.

The company has named James P. Andrew to fill the new position, which will be responsible for the company's corporate support functions, including financial planning and analysis, business finance, procurement, legal, and human resources.

Dunkin' Brands Group Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has promoted five new VPs to its management team.

Sherrill Kaplan was promoted to VP, digital marketing & innovation for Dunkin' Donuts U.S. Kaplan joined Dunkin' Brands nearly five years ago and has played a lead role in the development and execution of the retailer’s digital strategy and the DD Perks rewards program.

Retailers intrigued by the prospect of drone deliveries should be concerned by new data that shows a disturbingly high number of close calls with commercial aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration released data showing the number of incidents in which drones flew too close to a commercial aircraft increased to 1,200 last year from 236 incidents in 2014, the first year FAA began tracking the data.

Mall owner Westfield Corp. has acquired two buildings owned by Macy’s at Westfield Mission Valley mall in San Diego for approximately $16.5 million.

Included in the sale were a full-line Macy’s department store and a nearby — and much smaller — building that houses a restaurant.

The purchase comes as the retailer remains under pressure from an activist investor to sell off full or partial stakes in some of its real estate.

When it comes to security breaches, consumers are clear about who they hold responsible.

According to a new study from retail services provider Interactions, “Security Hacks and the Lasting Impact on Retailers,” 75% of consumers believe that keeping shopper information safe is the retailer’s responsibility.

Online delivery service Instacart is launching its first expansion of 2016 – and it’s a big one.
 
Instacart is now offering deliveries in as little as one hour from Whole Foods Market, Gelson’s Market, Stater Bros. Markets, Ralphs, Smart & Final, Costco (no membership needed), Petco, and H Mart to residents of Orange County, California. Whole Foods will offer delivery via Instacart at prices that are the same as shoppers find in-stores.